Learn how the pros tackle the top 4 causes of marble discoloration
Have you noticed the formerly pristine expanse of snowy white marble on your countertops or floors beginning to look dull, dingy, or stained? You might be feeling pretty upset. After all, discolored or damaged stone can drag down your entire décor.
Fortunately, Fuller Stone Care can help you restore your white marble to its natural bright hue. Here are some of the most common causes of marble discoloration and how we go about fixing them.
Dirty Pores
Over time, the polished finish on your marble will wear away, leaving a rough surface that traps dirt. Ordinary surface cleaners will not remove this dirt, because it is actually in the pores of the stone.
To remove the dirt and brighten the color of the stone, you will need to use a heavy duty alkaline marble cleaner. You may need to make several passes with the cleaner in order to achieve the color you want. After the marble is clean, you may need to have it professionally polished, which will not only restore its shine but also help smooth out those rough spots that were catching dirt.
Wax Buildup
Unfortunately, many marble floors get coated with wax, acrylic, or urethane products that are not actually meant for use on marble. These coatings can then become dirty, hiding the natural beauty of your stone. In some cases, the coating itself may yellow over time.
If any unsuitable products have been used to coat or seal your marble, they will need to be professionally stripped off the stone and replaced with a high-quality marble sealant.
Iron Stains
All marble should be professionally sealed to help protect it against moisture penetration. If this has not been done—or if you have a flood or leak that results in water sitting on your marble for a prolonged period of time—you could end up with iron staining. Basically what is occurring is iron (either in the veins of the stone or in the water) is rusting due to exposure to air and water. This will give your marble a yellowish or brownish tinge.
Fortunately, iron stains can be removed with proper cleaning. The first step is to apply a specially formulated poultice to lift out the stain. Then, the stone must be thoroughly dried and properly sealed to prevent further reactions between any iron and water in or on the stone.
Bad Polishing Job
Unfortunately, if you get an inexperienced contractor working on your marble it could end up looking worse than when you called them. For example, perhaps your marble was looking dull and you asked someone to polish it. If the polishing was done without checking that the stone was free of moisture, a process called recrystallization could occur, staining the entire top layer of the stone a yellowish color.
If this happens, you will need to have the marble thoroughly polished to remove the stained layer.
Want Whiter Marble? Call Fuller Stone Care
At Fuller Stone Care, we not only provide expert marble cleaning and polishing to restore the beautiful color and shine of your stone. We also provide preventative maintenance such as sealing to help keep your marble looking its best longer. To request service, please contact us at 855-205-0972.